Q&AQ&A with Los Lobos’ saxophonist/keyboardist Steve Berlin
IF YOU GOWhat: 17th annual Southern Brewers Festival.When: 2 p.m.-midnight Saturday.Where: Chattanooga Green; enter at corner of Chestnut and Second streets (at Hennen’s and Courtyard Marriott).Admission: $20 (includes one beer token, $3 for additional tokens, must bring ID to drink); free to children under 12.Phone: 424-2000 (CraftWorks Restaurants and Breweries office).Website: www.southernbrewersfestival.com.SCHEDULE2:30 p.m. The New Familiars4:15 p.m. Anders Osborne6:15 p.m. George Porter Jr. and Runnin’ Pardners8:15 p.m. Railroad Earth10:30 p.m. Los Lobos
By the time they’ve been together a decade, many bands have experienced at least some changes to their lineup due to arguments or members splitting off to pursue other projects. As they close in on almost 40 years together, however, the lineup of three-time Grammy Award-winning Latin rock band Los Lobos has remained almost unaltered.
With 27 years under his belt, keyboardist and saxophonist Steve Berlin is the group’s most junior member. He left another group, The Blasters, to join Los Lobos about a decade after its 1973 formation in East Los Angeles.
Berlin said the trick to achieving such even-keeled longevity is as much in the band’s philosophy of allowing its members to pursue side projects as in individual members’ personalities and performing chemistry.